Judge Norris was born in Athens, Georgia and grew up in the Normaltown and Forrest Heights neighborhoods. While in Athens he attended Oglethorpe Elementary School. Age age 11, he moved to the family farm in Oconee County after the death of his grandfather. Judge Norris attended and graduated from Oconee County High School.
During his senior of high school, Judge Norris was recommended by State Senator Paul Broun (D) for the prestigious Georgia Military Scholarship. After receiving his undergraduate degree in Finance from North Georgia College in Dahlonega in 1990 and his Juris Doctor from Regent University in Virginia in 1994, Judge Norris returned to Western Circuit and opened a private law practice on Main Street in Watkinsville.
In 1996, Judge Norris married his best friend, Jennifer Stewart and they have been married for twenty-two years. They have two children, son Caleb, age 15 and daughter Greer, age 13. Jennifer is native Athenian and a Double Dawg graduate of the University of Georgia. After completing her music degree and masters degree, Jennifer taught orchestra at Clarke Middles School and Clarke Central High School. She is the owner of Athena Quartet, and has played for many of your weddings and special events in the Athens area.
In 1996, Judge Norris started a general law practice in both civil and criminal cases that gave the foundational building blocks for the types of cases litigated in the Magistrate, Probate and Superior Courts of the States. Judge Norris has served the community as Chief Magistrate Judge, Lieutenant Colonel in the Georgia Army National Guard and in private law practice. In 2016, Judge Norris was appointed to the Superior Court Bench and in 2018 Judge Norris was elected to the Superior Court Bench.
Judge Norris serves in numerous legal, civic and military roles. Judge Norris has served as President of the Western Judicial Bar Association, and further served on: the 10th District Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee, Western Circuit Public Defender Supervisory Committee, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court's Workload Assessment Committee, Council of Magistrate Court Judges, Council of Superior Court Judges and Presiding Judge of the Western Judicial Circuit Treatment and Accountability Court.
Judge Norris, has served as President of the Oconee County Rotary Club, graduate of Leadership Oconee, Oconee State Bank Citizens Advisory Board, North Oconee High School Mock Trial Coach, and Judge for the Georgia Mock Trial competitions.
Presently, Judge Norris has served thirty-two years in the Georgia Army National Guard as Signal Officer, Field Artillery Officer and Inspector General. He has held command from Company level to Battalion Command. In addition, Judge Norris has received numerous military awards to include the Meritorious Service Medal, and Army Commendation Medal.
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